McCormick messenger. (McCormick, S.C.) 1902-current, August 14, 1930, Image 1
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TBU* TO OURSELV1CS. OUR NEIGHBORS. OUR COUNTRY AND OUR GOD.
Twenty-Ninth Year
8 Pages - All Home Print McCORMICK, S. .C.
Thursday, August 14, 1930
Established June 5, 1902
Number 11
COUNTY CANDIDATES ADDRESS VOTERS
DAY AND WILL BE AT PLUM
BRANCH TOMORROW
ramliHatPs Have i d0 something to encourage new
AXctvr; ; people to come in and work our
Good Meeting At lands. Labor needs help. I am in-
o i l terested in farming, operating 20
Washington bclioor plows myself, and I know the far-
|mer hasn’t had a fair chance, al-
SPOKE AT WILLINGTON TUBS- though he fills an important place.
The tax burden, freight rate and
interest rate he has to pay and
low prices he receives for his pro-
The McCormick County cam- ducts ruin him. The State and
paign meeting last Friday at Wash- ! federal government should help the
ington High School building, mid- farmers and laboring class rather
way Parksville and Modoc, was at- than the corporate and wealthy,
tended by some 250 or more people The farmer only gets about one
from that and nearby communi- j third the money needed to make
ties. The meeting was presided his crop—has hard time getting it
over by Mr. R. N. Edmunds of from chain banks. Conditions are
Parksville, who extended a hearty getting desperate and something
welcome to visitors and paid his must be done for the farmer; who
compliments to the candidates, works hard, but to little avail,
anyone of whom he believe^ would
make a good officer. The good
fellowship prevailing among the
candidates, he believes, reflects
good citizenship, and he is proud
of them as well as of the county
where he believes we can live with
out fear of being assasinated.
DR. KILLINGSWORTH
The first speaker was Dr. R. G.
Killingsworth, former representa
tive and now candidate for State
senate from this county, who stat- farmers have their stuff sold for
The problem of taxation is 40
years old, but nothing has yet
brought relief. Banks don’t pay
taxes on farm lands; cotton mills
are exempt from taxation the first
five years, but nothing is ever
taken off the farmers. I would
work for relief from tax burden.
It appears that the rich man gets
richer and the poor man gets poor
er. The most valuable citizen is
the man who owns his own home.
We need the homestead law, but
ed that he was glad to be back in
that section after an absence of
two years. He claimed to have no
platform, but his slogan is “Hon
esty and economy.” He promises
taxes.
Appropriations now
should be cut. Salaries and appro
priations to institutions of higher
learning should be cut wherever
fair dealing and no favors and • possible. Every child should have
wants the honor of representing a high school education at the ex-
v
the county in the senate, the race
for which he is making individual
ly and without money. He had no
thing to say against his two op
ponents, but urged his hearers to
cast their ballot according to the
true worth and merits of the man,
and feels that he is sufficiently
^-4amiliar with and interested in the
affairs of the county and State to
protect their interests.
While he realizes the need for
good roads and schools, he doubts
this being the right time for ex
pansion on account of the general
depression existing over the State.
He is opposed to political rings
making laws in hotel rooms at
night and fears the people will lose
their rights if check is not put on
the forces that are piling up debt
on the State. He wants the bank
ing laws modified so that deposi
tors would have the same degree
of protection banks demand. He
\ would be ready to give attention to
'^county affairs, and stands for the
•Nights of laboring people and tax
i payers; church and politics won’t
tnix, but politics and honesty must
ibe mixed; this is a day of corpora
tions and chain banks and chain
stores. Money and politics get to
gether and take away your person-
U privileges; this must be stopped
oT'the people will lose the little
power they now have. If I am
elected your senator I hope you
will be proud of me.
W. K. CHARLES
Mr. W. K. Cnarles felt that he
was not among strangers there as
he had appealed on that stump
two years ago wnile seeking the of
fice of senate, to which office he
now aspires to fill out the unex-
pired term of former Senator Rob
inson. We need patriotic and un
selfish service, and in offering .for
i|the office I do 'so of my own free
fcvill and accord, and am the candi
date of nobody and feel that my
^training equips me for the place.
The people want a change in meth
ods and politics in this day of need
of bread and butter, action is
what’s needed rather than chaff
f and promises.
With reference to taxation, Mr.
Charles stated that strange things
are happening. Agriculture is in
bad shape. Lands and homes are
b£ing sold for taxes and merchants
are not able to meet the competi-
‘ lion of money powers and chain
stores. Agriculture and people
need relief; industries would help
this county; bad conditions are
prevalent in other sections, and
appear as bad or worse where in
dustries are located. We have no
inducements to offer industries
that other sections cannot offer.
The remedy lies in helping the
pense of the public, but no use to
get as much as formerly. Are the
ty. The county is now bonded to
the limit and we must pay it. I
will help pay and put the county
on top. I am a laboring man my
self and have worked hard from
early morning until late at night,
and am a friend to the laboring
men and farmers. I have never
had any trouble with my labor.
I treat the laboring man like he
were my brother, and do not de
press labor.
A bunch of negroes came to me
recently and wanted me to give
them work at 50 cents a day—they
named the amount—and while I
had nothing in particular for them
to do, I decided to do some land
clearing and gave them jobs at
$1.00 per day; they asked for 50
cents, but I gave them $1.00. No
body else pays more for farm la
bor. Mr. Dorn then read a
schedule of wages and salaries paid
his men and stated that the rail
way company does not pay its
agents better salaries than he pays
his men, whose salaries he in
creases, without their asking, when
he knows they deserve it. His
men get a vacation and straight
pay when sick. No man is a bet
ter friend to the laboring men and
fanners than J. J. Dorn, he said.
In 1917 The Peoples Bank of Mc
Cormick was organized, and he
provided helped finance it and has always
helped farmers in this and ad
jacent counties. He stated that on
June 11th, he came to the rescue
of The Peoples Bank and will do
so at any time. The bank can get
help on a minute’s notice, and I am
there to back it up. I am vice
taking over land and promoting
timber production.
I now stand as I always have
stood on matters affecting the peo
ple, and do not make rash promises
for gain. The county is in debt,
and I see no chance of reducing
taxes under the debt. The big sal
aried men should make some con
cessions—we have to make or sub
mit to concessions. Some senators
and representatives seem to forget
their promises to their constitu
ents, and hunt up new things to
tax, but I try to remember mine
and work for the peoples interests,
and not deprive them of their
rights.
The members of the legislature
should pass a bill to reduce their
own salaries; that would prevent
State institutions from asking for
so much. I helped reduce the ap
propriation bill in 1928 and always
sembly, asserting that he had
worked for relief for the farmer
and laboring man, and offered his
record to prove that he had favor
ed reducing expenses of institu
tions of higher learning, State in
stitutions and other branches of
State government. While he is
proud of them, he believes they
can be run on less money. The
tax burden is heavy and must be
relieved in some way as soon as
possible. I realize it is a great
privilege to serve you, and I have
done my best to look after your in
terests.
Tangible property needs to be
taxed. $350,000,000 of invisible
property is today paying no taxes
into our State treasury and should
be taxed to help the 30 per cent
paying to bear- the heavy burden.
The property tax is unjust and in
equitable. The State tax should
A. F. Lever Will
Speak Here Sat.
SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT TO AD
DRESS McCORMICK VOTERS
A. F. Lever, candidate for gov
ernor, will speak here at the court
house Saturday morning, August
16th, at 11 o’clock. Mr. Lever was
ill and unable to be here with the
other candidates in June and is
asking that the voters come out to
hear him in this special engage
ment.
worked for the best interest of my : be taken off the land. The State
county and State, and shall con- ’ debt has increased in big propor-
tinue to do so if chosen as your j tions during the past few years.
representative. |The present cotton crop would . ,, ,
barely pay the taxes if sold today. many of them are only after the
and could do on half the amount
they are now getting. We are do
ing it, and they could too, he ex
claimed. He would favor a cut in
salaries from governor to coroner,
and believes the people should feel
that they are blessed if more tax
es are not put on them; and thinks
men holding office are not very
different from other men and
people going to allow the appropri-, president and director in the bank
a tions to be raised? I favor taking
taxes off the bona fide farmers,
but not active in the bank.
D. L. WIDEMAN
Mr. Wideman, candidate for the
house of representatives, said he
was glad to be back among his
friends and glad to see so many
out to hear the candidates. In
offering for this office, Mr. Wide
man continued, I do so of my own
volition and am the candidate of
no man nor set of men. I have
no special favors to offer anyone
and would represent every person
and every section alike. I have de
serted my chosen profession as
After giving a brief review of con
ditions and management of things
in Egypt, Mr. McDaniel said, I
pledge myself to support all meas
ures -that would bring relief and
prosperity to my people.
In the legislature he supported
the bill raising the old soldiers’
pension from $143.00 to $240.00 and
the one taxing radio sets, which is
50 cents to $1.50, and goes to the
T. B. Sanitarium, exclaiming, any
of you would have supported these
two bills. He believes in good
pie.
Mr. Dowtih concluded by saying
the teachers who are now getting
$100.00 a month and paying $40.00
board would work for $40.00 a
month and pay $10.00 board. Mc
Cormick County is stranded now
and w T ill do well to pay her debts,
he added just before pledging him
self to give his best services to the
office, if elected.
FOR TREASURER
Candidates for treasurer spoke
teacher in the public schools to of- j roads and schools, but thinks sal- Seig , er brlefly stating the i r quali-
fer my services to my people. The i anes m State institutions should | flcaUons and p ledging fa itbful
salary of representative does not j be reduced at least 10 per cent -■ senrice if e i ec ted, while T. J. Price.
Mr. Dorn then produced tax re-j near equal that of teacher, but I
would oppose additional taxes of ceipts to prove that The Peoples | would gladly give up the work I so
They get too much, but want more.
One of my opponents stated that
any kind on lands, and oppose gen
eral sales tax that would make the
consumer pay taxes on everything town taxes.
he uses, such as sugar, coffee,
cloth, etc. I would tax stocks and
bonds, and get the man who gets
the benefits. The rich man gets
Bank paid $1,431.46 taxes on real ; dearly love and have followed the; we llad looked around for more
estate last year—State, county and past five years, to serve my conn- to tax. The house of rep-
frmm fa-v-oc I an d state, and would be alert resentatives tried to reduce the ap-
incumbent, stood on his record and
! promised a continuation of good
services if re-elected.
Mr. Charles stepped forward and
said that he had referred to what
he had found in the statutes.
Mr. Dorn stated that The Peo-
tfie benefits, while the poor man pies Bank had never escaped tax-
pays the taxes. $350,000,000 of
bonds in this State are today es
caping taxation.
ation, and concluded his remarks
by saying that he would do his
best as senator if the people choose
Concentration of wealth is a him.
dangerous thing; two few men are
controlling too much stock; they
could ruin the country in a short
while if they choose to. We will!
get back to the ox cart if these
things are allowed to go on. Must
break the chain. We need more
stringent banking laws. Deposits
should be insured; the banks are
protected, but the depositors are
not.
I favor biennial sessions of the
legislature. Our game laws protect
the idle rich but are no good to
the poor farmers, who are fined
for killing birds and rabbits. We
need certain game laws, but not
merely for the idle rich.
I have nothing against my two
opponents. Vote your best judg
ment—it’s your duty. I am here
to stay and am interested in the
county’s welfare. My success de-
Dr. W. G. Blackwell called Mr.
Dorn back and told him that the
people wanted to know how to vote
intelligently, and they would like to
know Mr. Dorn’s attitude towards
the institutions of higher learning
with special reference to salaries
in these institutions. Mr. Dom
replied that he wants to hold down
expenses and cut appropriations
from every angle, but didn’t wish to
mention anything in particular at
this time.
W. D. MORRAH
Hon. W. D. Morrah, who repre
sented the county in the house
three years, and is again seeking
this office, extended his thanks to
the voters for their previous sup
port, and stated that he did not
know why he was defeated two
j .. „ .. , years ago, unless it was on account
pends upon the success of others.' of a rumor circulated 1ust orlor t0
I feel that l am competent to serve | the election> but he wanted to ,, m .
you as sena r. |phaticallv state that he did not be
lieve MrT McDaniel, his opponent
had anything to do with the rum
or.
Mr. Morrah said those m the
audience were not strangers to
him; he wanted to assure them he
was the candidate of no man nor
set of men and was offering his
services of his own free will and
accord and w r as conducting his
campaign on a high plane and he
gives others credit for as much.
The people have been good to me
and I want to thank them for it.
He believes in the re-classification
of property and would tax stocks
and bonds to put into the treasury
revenue now escaping the tills,
which amounts to thousands and
J. J. DORN
Mr. Dorn, candidate for State
senate from this county, opened
his address by saying, I am not be
fore you to make a political speech,
but to earnestly request your sup
port for the State senate from Mc
Cormick County. I am running
on my own accord. I know the
financial condition of the county,
and feel that it is my duty to of
fer my services. I have managed
my own business the past 24 years
and have worked hard and made
a success of it and believe I can
be of benefit to the county in the
capacity of senator. After con-
to all things for their benefit.
I favor the re-classification of
property in order to relieve the
tax burden. The farmers have re
ceived fewer favors than anybody
else. I favor exempting lands
from taxes for few years; we need
revenue, but the poor man should
not have it all to pay, while the
rich man is the one getting the
most benefit. I would work in in
terest of the schools rather than
for roads. Too much is paid in
salaries in the institutions of high
er learning, and I would favor a
reduction of at least 50 per cent
in salaries of these men and cut
the governor’s salary to $5,000.00.
Too much is going out in big sal
aries and there’s where the reduc
tions should start.
The lives of, school children are
too cheap in South Carolina. We
need a law to prohibit the opera
tion of school buses by school boys
and girls. I would favor a law giv
ing preference to South Carolina
teachers—give them the jobs and
quit going out of the State to get
teachers. Give our home people
the preference.
I favor biennial sessions of the
legislature—most of them spend
much money and don’t do much
when they go, so let’s relieve of
them of going to Columbia every
year. We need more stringent
banking laws. Depositors need
more protection. I have no crit
icism to make of bank officials—
the trouble is in the laws. I am a
friend to the independent mer
chant, the man wdio has been here
with us all the time fighting our
fights with us. I favor heavy chain
store tax and would aid our inde-
propriation bill, but the senate
raised it a million dollars and put
the State tax back on. I favored
the $65,000,000 road bond bill. It
will give our county paved roads
that we could not have gotten un
der any other plan within the next
fifty years, and gives us other good
roads in the highway system out
of gas tax receipts. The State
Highway Department has relieved
us of $240,000.00 of our road bonds
and is paying the $18,000 interest
on them. I am going to Columbia
soon to see if I can get them to
pay the interest on Furey’s Ferry
bridge bonds and make it a free
bridge.
Our banking laws are bad, but
we are not the only people hurt
by bank failures. We need more
stringent banking laws, and I sup
ported a bill in the last session of
the legislature that was designed
for the protection of depositors,
but the bill was killed. The 1930
legislature tried to tax ride
the chain stores. We should put r
check on the money pov/ers - anc;
chain stores and help get the bur
den off our farmers and laboring
people. Relieve real estate of the
burden and put it on tangib?
property. Re-classify property anc
make taxes just and equitable.
I have served you the best ’
could, and stood for economy, and
feel that I can be worth more tr
you now than ever before and wLV
appreciate your sending me back
as your representative. '
T. A. DOWTIN
Mr. Dowtin, candidate for the
house of representatives, stated in
the outset that he knew those in
pendent merchants and farmers. ^j ie audience were hungry and tir-
We don’t need game laws in this
county; they are for the benefit of
the rich. Neither do we need a
game warden in this county. I
would favor abolishing this office
and having this county exempt
from the game law. I would not
suiting my brother, Gary, I decided
to make the race. We own between thousands of dollars annually, t take an increase in salary—am op-
25,000 and 30,000 acres of land in while the little man and the farm- 1 P osed t° the sugar coated pay as
the county and are running 185 er are forced to pay high taxes, expense money and would not take
plows. j He believes legislation along this a P enn y money is not what I
He said agriculture is what we j line would make the rich man help am after * 1 would appreciate your
must depend upon. The lumber bear the tax burden. suffrage and represent all interest
business is no good now. Good work He now favors, as always, bien- alike ** y° u elect me *
must be done to run the schools; nial sessions of the legislature,
we can’t reduce the tax burden which would save the State from J. O. McDANIEL
without working our lands and get- $150,000 to $200,000 dollars every
ed, and he would be as brief as
possible in outlining his platform,
pointing first to the fact that the
State appropriations had increased
from $3,000,000 to $11,000,000 in the
past few years, and warned his
hearers that it was time to call a
halt; however, the only way to
reduce taxes would be to cut the
appropriations and expenses all
along the line. He said the pub
lic schools are getting too much
money. Put a boy through high
school at the tax payers’ expense
and if he can’t make his own way
ting new enterprises into our coun- other year. The economists and for re-election to the house of rep-
ty and I believe I could be of more forest experts, in his opinion, may resentatives, defended his record
fanning industry and we should J help in this as senator of the coun- 1 in some measure bring relief by as member of the 79th general as-
through college he is a hopeless
Hon. J. O. McDaniel, who stands case.
He read a list of State supported
institutions and amounts alloted
them, saying they cost too much
FOR AUDITOR
C. W. Pennal, incumbent, spoke
of his record and mentioned the
hard times, saying we must go to
work if we expect to come back.
He promised to continue to render
good service if re-elected. T L.
Edmunds, who is offering for this
office, stated that he was not a
public speaker, but he wanted to
say he believed he was weET quali
fied for the place and if the peo
ple would elect him he would make
them a good auditor.
PROBATE JUDGE
L. G. Bell, seeking re-election as
probate judge, stood on his record
and, promised to continue to faith
fully fulfill the duties of the office
if favored with it again. John C.
Corley, candidate for this office,
stated that he believed himself
well qualified to hold it and would
make the people a good officer if
elected.
FOR CORONER
Judge T. J. Lyon, who, by ap
pointment, is filling out the unex
pired term of Mr. J. C. Morgan, de
ceased, is asking for the coroner’s
office on his qualifications and
record. He believes his experience
in this and other capacities fits
him for the place, and wound up
by saying, I am 39 years old and
can’t be here much longer, so be
lieve you should give me the place
again.
M. L. B. Starkey, candidate for
coroner, enumerated his qualifica
tions and spoke of being one of the
only two men now living who were
in the first fight for the establish
ment of McCormick County. He
wants the honor of being connect
ed with the county and is not af
ter the money. I am not a veteran
and neither is any of my oppon
ents; I was an ardent worker for
the county and am now after the
honor rather than the pay, which
is a hundred dollars a year, end
still would ask for the office if it
paid less, he said in conclusion.
Mr. T. B. Goff and Mr. F. P,
White, also candidates for coroner,
were not in the building at the
conclueton of Mr. Sturkey’s talk
and did not address the meeting.
The candidates had a good meet
ing at Willington Tuesday and will
go to Plum Branch tomorrow, Fri
day, August 15th, winding up their
speaking tour in McCormick > on
Friday, August 22nd.